62 research outputs found

    Fair Use as Creative Muse: An Ongoing Case Study

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    In this chapter, the authors describe various copyright-related lessons that they\u27ve presented to faculty and students at their institution

    Patterning during embryo development in Pinus

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    Somatic embryogenesis is an attractive method to propagate conifers vegetatively. However, many species belonging to Pinus are recalcitrant to somatic embryo development. The overall aim of this thesis has been to gain a better understanding of the developmental pathway leading to cotyledonary somatic embryos of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). By comparing the developmental pathway of somatic embryos in a normal and in an abnormal cell line, differences between the cell lines were identified. An important difference was the high ratio of early and late embryos carrying supernumerary suspensor cells in the abnormal cell line compared to embryos in the normal cell line. This unbalanced ratio between the embryonal mass and the suspensor is at least partly caused by a disturbed polar auxin transport. Furthermore, a high proportion of early and late embryos degenerated in both cell lines. The degenerating embryos in the normal cell line were eliminated in a similar way as subordinate embryos in the seed. Contrastingly, the degenerating embryos in the abnormal cell line were not eliminated; instead the degenerated embryos started to differentiate new embryos creating a loop of embryo degeneration and embryo differentiation. During initiation of embryogenic tissue, the protruding early zygotic embryo(s) started to degenerate before a proliferating embryogenic culture was established, indicating that the initiation of embryogenic cultures is not a direct continuation of cleavage polyembryony. The results further suggest that there is a high risk that cell lines initiated from early zygotic embryos at the stage of cleavage develop abnormally. To be able to use more differentiated tissues as explants for initiation of embryogenic cultures, more knowledge is needed about totipotence and embryogenic potential. Treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) during maturation of somatic embryos of Norway spruce inhibited the maturation progression of the embryos. Furthermore, although TSA-treatment maintained the embryogenic potential in germinating somatic embryos, it did not enable the embryos to regain embryogenic potential after it was lost. By analysing global changes in gene expression during early zygotic embryo development in Scots pine, we identified genes and processes that might be important for regulating the cleavage process and for the development of a dominant embryo. Together these results contribute to the knowledge that in turn can lead to improved protocols for large scale propagation of Pinus species via somatic embryos

    Entrepreneurship and Gender Equality in Academia – a Complex Combination in Practice

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    This article takes as its starting point two current trends in academia – the promotion of academic entrepreneurship and innovation and the promotion of gender equality – and discusses how different gender equality perspectives are interwoven, or not, into academia’s transformation processes towards entrepreneurial universities. On the basis of an analysis of 26 interviews conducted with personnel at two Swedish universities, the article investigates how concepts of academic entrepreneurship and innovation on the one hand and gender equality on the other hand are constructed and filled with meaning as well as how they are entangled and what effects are produced by this way of thinking and acting. Our analysis reveals tensions between the two policy goals, together with tensions within each goal. An overall conclusion is that articulations and ways of speaking about the policy goal of academic entrepreneurship and innovation were to some extent interwoven with the policy goal of gender equality, especially in the broader perspectives on academic entrepreneurship. However, the articulations of strategies and practice of the two policy goals essentially ran parallel, and were not entangled with one another. This is because strategies or substantial initiatives for merging gender equality into the agenda of academic entrepreneurship and innovation were lacking

    Transcript profiling for early stages during embryo development in Scots pine

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    Background: Characterization of the expression and function of genes regulating embryo development in conifers is interesting from an evolutionary point of view. However, our knowledge about the regulation of embryo development in conifers is limited. During early embryo development in Pinus species the proembyo goes through a cleavage process, named cleavage polyembryony, giving rise to four embryos. One of these embryos develops to a dominant embryo, which will develop further into a mature, cotyledonary embryo, while the other embryos, the subordinate embryos, are degraded. The main goal of this study has been to identify processes that might be important for regulating the cleavage process and for the development of a dominant embryo. Results: RNA samples from embryos and megagametophytes at four early developmental stages during seed development in Pinus sylvestris were subjected to high-throughput sequencing. A total of 6.6 million raw reads was generated, resulting in 121,938 transcripts, out of which 36.106 contained ORFs. 18,638 transcripts were differentially expressed (DETs) in embryos and megagametophytes. GO enrichment analysis of transcripts up-regulated in embryos showed enrichment for different cellular processes, while those up-regulated in megagametophytes were enriched for accumulation of storage material and responses to stress. The highest number of DETs was detected during the initiation of the cleavage process. Transcripts related to embryogenic competence, cell wall modifications, cell division pattern, axis specification and response to hormones and stress were highly abundant and differentially expressed during early embryo development. The abundance of representative DETs was confirmed by qRT-PCR analyses. Conclusion: Based on the processes identified in the GO enrichment analyses and the expression of the selected transcripts we suggest that (i) processes related to embryogenic competence and cell wall loosening are involved in activating the cleavage process; (ii) apical-basal polarization is strictly regulated in dominant embryos but not in the subordinate embryos; (iii) the transition from the morphogenic phase to the maturation phase is not completed in subordinate embryos. This is the first genome-wide transcript expression profiling of the earliest stages during embryo development in a Pinus species. Our results can serve as a framework for future studies to reveal the functions of identified genes

    An “Anti-Handbook Handbook” for Unexpected Changes in a Library Organization

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    Library employees face countless changes, big and small, in their workplaces every day: not only the COVID-19 pandemic but also such commonplace events as open positions, renovations, budget cuts, and new library systems. No single handbook can anticipate all the changing needs. This case study discusses how one particular library responded, in a specific time and context. The librarians and staff created a model of self-leadership in an effort to articulate a shared purpose and to establish cohesion and well-being in a group that was sometimes divided and stressed. Lessons learned include the importance of ways of thinking, rather than specific protocols, and the value of trust, listening, and transparency

    Reduced calcineurin inhibitor exposure with antibody induction and recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation

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    Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common indication for liver transplantation (LT), but post-LT tumor recurrence remains a concern. Early post-LT immunosuppression is suggested to affect recurrence risk. We evaluated the impact on HCC recurrence of an immunosuppression protocol introduced in 2010 with interleukin-2 receptor antibody (IL-2RA) induction and delayed-introduction of reduced-dose tacrolimus with mycophenolate. Methods We included consecutive HCC patients transplanted 2000-2017 in Gothenburg. The impact on HCC recurrence of IL-2RA induction and mean tacrolimus trough concentration during the first 20 post-LT days was analyzed by multivariable Cox regression and propensity score-adjusted analyses. Results The study comprised 235 patients (mean age 57 yrs, men 80%, mean MELD 13, within Milan criteria 57%). The cumulative 5-yr HCC recurrence rate among patients transplanted before and after 2010 were 28.6% and 19.7%, respectively. IL-2RA induction had no independent effect on HCC recurrence. High tacrolimus exposure (mean 20-day tacrolimus concentration >= 8ng/mL) was associated with increased HCC recurrence risk on univariable analysis (HR 2.22, 95% CI 1.23-4.01, p = .008), but was non-significant on multivariable analysis (p = .17). Outside Milan criteria, high tacrolimus exposure was significant for HCC recurrence (HR 3.68, 95% CI 1.34-10.11, p = .012) independently of tumor characteristics and AFP level. This was confirmed on multivariable propensity score-adjusted analysis. Conclusions Reduced early tacrolimus exposure, facilitated by IL-2RA induction, was associated with reduced risk for HCC recurrence among patients outside Milan criteria. Prospective studies are needed to confirm if early tacrolimus-minimization strategies can help reduce HCC recurrence rates and help extend transplant criteria.Peer reviewe

    The RETREAT score provides valid predictions regarding hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver transplantation

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    Prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) with knowledge of explant data is important for guiding post-LT surveillance and treatment. The RETREAT score was recently introduced for this purpose, but has not been validated outside the USA. In a retrospective single-center study of 169 consecutive patients undergoing LT in Gothenburg, through 2000-2017 (mean age 57 years, 80% men), there were 34 HCC recurrences during a median 4.6-year follow-up. The 5-year cumulative incidence of HCC recurrence was 0% with RETREAT scores of 0-1 (18%), 11-22% with scores of 2-4 (58%), and 65% with scores of 5-8 (24%). The C-statistic, as a measure of discrimination for prediction of HCC recurrence was 0.762, 0.664, 0.616, and 0.717, for the RETREAT score, Milan criteria, UCSF criteria, and post-MORAL criteria. The RETREAT score had no significant impact on patient survival after HCC recurrence (HR 1.00, P = 0.97). In conclusion, the RETREAT score provided valid predictions of post-LT HCC recurrence in a European setting, with the ability to discriminate between high, intermediate, and low risk for HCC recurrence in a clinically important way. Prognosis after recurrence did not differ according to the RETREAT score in our study.Peer reviewe

    ProblemomrÄden inom K2-regelverket - kommer redovisningen för smÄ företag att förÀndras?

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    Syftet med examensarbetet Ă€r att analysera om BFN stötte pĂ„ problem vid upparbetningen, samt om vĂ„r expert och redovisningsekonomerna tror samma problem kommer att uppstĂ„ vid tillĂ€mpningen. ÄndamĂ„let Ă€r Ă€ven att beskriva varför dessa kommer att bli problematiska och om andra problem kommer att uppstĂ„. I teorin beskrivs gĂ€llande regelverk och kommande K2-regelverket för belysta problemomrĂ„den samt definitioner av olika organ. De problemomrĂ„den som redovisningsekonomerna nĂ€mner kommer inte att bli nĂ„gra större problem för K2-företagen, eftersom de flesta företag redan tillĂ€mpar reglerna som kommer att ingĂ„ i K2-regelverket. BFN vill inte ha komplicerad redovisning i K2, dĂ€rmed fĂ„r de företag som har komplicerad verksamhet och specifika krav pĂ„ sin redovisning istĂ€llet tillĂ€mpa K3-regelverket. Undersökningen visar Ă€ven att övergĂ„ngen frĂ„n gĂ€llande regelverk till K2-regelverket kommer att medföra problem

    The year out

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    Figure S5. Distribution of up-regulated TF family members in embryos and megagametophytes. Presented data are based on TF family members differentially accumulated (FC > 2) during seed development in any of the pairwise comparisons between embryos and megagametophytes. Orange bars show the number of TFs belonging to each family in embryos and green bars in megagametophytes. TFs were classified into TF families by using the publicly available PlantTFDB v 3.0 database. Figure S6. Abundance of the ten largest TF families differentially expressed between embryos and megagametophytes during seed development shown in Fig. 5. Number of members in each TF family detected at different developmental stages in (A) embryos and (B) megagametophytes. Subordinate embryos were excluded from this analysis. (PDF 312 kb

    Tryptophan-Accelerated Electron Flow Through Proteins

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    Energy flow in biological structures often requires submillisecond charge transport over long molecular distances. Kinetics modeling suggests that charge-transfer rates can be greatly enhanced by multistep electron tunneling in which redox-active amino acid side chains act as intermediate donors or acceptors. We report transient optical and infrared spectroscopic experiments that quantify the extent to which an intervening tryptophan residue can facilitate electron transfer between distant metal redox centers in a mutant Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin. CuI oxidation by a photoexcited ReI-diimine at position 124 on a histidine(124)-glycine(123)-tryptophan(122)-methionine(121) ÎČ strand occurs in a few nanoseconds, fully two orders of magnitude faster than documented for single-step electron tunneling at a 19 angstrom donor-acceptor distance
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